Superlounge Diversity Award Will Send Filmmakers to Bootcamp
“Others talk about the diversity problem, we are attacking it, one filmmaker at a time”
SANTA MONICA, CA, October 28, 2016 -- The Superlounge Diversity Award will send one deserving filmmaker from an underrepresented population to Commercial Directing Bootcamp, December 3rd, 2016 in Los Angeles. In response to the lack of female, minority and LGBT directors at the helm of filmed advertising, the scholarship has been launched by LA-based production company Superlounge to help expose these filmmakers to the insights offered by the successful seminar. Filmmakers need only send a link to their work, along with a statement about their interest in commercial directing, to jordan@commercialdirectingbootcamp.com. Submissions are open until November 10th. The award will be announced November 17th.
“While others talk about the diversity problem, we are attacking it, one filmmaker at a time,” said Superlounge director Jordan Brady Brady launched the Commercial Directing Bootcamp this year, holding sold-out seminars in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Austin and Dallas. With nearly 1,000 national TV commercials to his credit, and counting, the director feels an obligation to share what he’s learned. “Yes, we live in a world of tighter budgets where everyone is a ‘filmmaker’,” he said. “But the path to a healthy industry is openness, mentoring and an embrace of community. There are no secrets in a shared economy.”
“I’ve been a longtime listener of Jordan’s podcast, and was instantly on board the moment I saw he was doing a workshop,” said Filmmaker Jeff Hoferer, who attended Brady’s first LA bootcamp. “He did not disappoint. I’ve never met a director of Jordan’s caliber who’s so willing to share insight into the industry he works in. It’s truly refreshing.” Another alum, Brian Petcher, became a 2016 Cannes Young Director Award Nominee after attending the NYC bootcamp and applying techniques and advice learned.
Inspired in part by Werner Herzog’s Rogue Film School, which is about “a way of life” as opposed to technique, Brady’s bootcamp is not a film school, “although we cover film craft,” he said. “This is about how the business works, how to approach filmmaking for commercials and how to make a living as a filmmaker in advertising.” While the advertising landscape has experienced tremendous upheaval amidst a recession and the digital revolution, Brady points out that the needs of brands - and their expectations of filmmakers - remain the same. “Especially in today’s world, becoming a successful commercial director begins with learning how to become a good one,” he observed, “and to whatever extent I can nurture that, I’m happy to do so.” If Brady holds any concerns at all about sharing too much of that secret sauce, he’s not letting on. “Look, no two directors are alike,” he affirmed. “I know, because I’ve bid against both of them.”
About Superlounge
Superlounge is a boutique LA production company with a roster comprised of award-winning commercial directors Jordan Brady, Daniel Sheppard, Brett Wagner, Barton Landsman, Jeff Aron Lable and Jeannette Godoy. The company is presided over by Executive Producer/Partner Dave Farrell and Executive Producer, National Sales + Marketing Vicki Ordeshook.
About Jordan Brady
Jordan Brady's true passion is commercials, yet he's directed five features films, including the 2010 cult hit feature documentary I AM COMIC (Netflix, Showtime), a Who’s Who of standup comedy launching a filmmaking journey through the current boom that has made him the definitive biographer of the medium's modern era. Even more of today’s top stand ups appeared in Brady’s 2014’s I AM ROAD COMIC (Hulu), and he recently returned from Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq, filming I AM BATTLE COMIC, which followed Brady and a squadron of stand-ups overseas to perform for troops serving in the US Armed Forces. Brady also hosts the popular podcast RESPECT THE PROCESS, described by Special Teams film editor-turned-director Mark Nickelsburg as “The Rosetta Stone of filmmaking.” His guests over 100+ episodes have included McCann Worldwide Global ECD Bill Wright, Leo Burnett Detroit CCO Steve Chavez, Doner Detroit ECD Chuck Meehan, Adam McKay, Morgan Spurlock, Mike Bigelow, Bobcat Goldthwait and Marcus Nispel.
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